Girl's Night! (Amelia)

December 20, 222AC

Wes drove up to the condo where Amelia lived and parked, letting the truck softly idle outside. In his college days, Wes would simply honk. He wouldn't do it now, he was far more civilized now. Whipping out his phone, he texted her.

[You need to get out here. I'm not your date, so put on pants. I ain't trying to get in them.]

A nasty reply followed, and Wes chuckled. Finally after nearly an eternity Amelia emerged, that smile ever on her face.

Girl, you look like you're hiding a man in there...if you kept me waiting so you could get some...we are gonna have words.

Once she had herself settled in, Wes took off to their favorite bar and restaurant: The Cap n' Badge. It was a pretty popular cop bar in the middle of the city, and for some reason, none of the cops had figured out that he was a firefighter.

Talk to me, what's new?

They drove through the streets of Bastion, the soft murmur of Wes' CB radio sqwacking the fire frequencies. As they pulled in to the parking lot, Amelia had just finished her basic explanation of the newness in her life. Stepping out, he let Amelia lead the way to the table.

Amelia finished putting the cookies into the jar on her counter, so that next time Amanda made her way over they would have cookies to share over homework and gossip about her father. It was funny, how fast Amelia slipped into the role of being a mother to someone. She couldn't help it though, and she actually loved it. She knew for a fact that she would never change a thing about what was happening. Christmas was right around the corner, and the office party was making her worry. She almost thought about asking Wes but she knew that he was seeing someone even if he was being too secretive at the mment to say who, she would get it out of him. She swore.

Her phone went off and he brow rose as she smiled.

[You couldn't get into them with the jaws of life you sick bastard]

She wasn't sure what Jack would make of Amelia having a childhood best friend. But, she and Wes had grown up practically side by side, at least during the summers where she stayed with her Grandparents which lived int he same building as Wes' family and so they spent all their holidays' together. Building forts, stealing cookies, and dreaming of the future.

Who would have thought a Detective and a Fire fighter would be BFFs still but the one constant in her life had always been Wes. Through terrible breakups, heartache, bad cases, and more, he had always been there. They had lost touch when her abilities came on her fast and quick but that was mostly her fault and as soon as she felt capable of handling the tornado that was Wes she had called him.

She put on a new pair of jeans and a tight zebra print dress over it that hid nothing but covered everything. That with her black heels and herhair down were good enough for Fletcher. She headed down, locked the door and hoped into his truck.

She gave him 'the look' that said if she was gettin' some he would have been stood up. As they drove he asked her what she was up to and she gave her basic run down.

"Work, new case, hardass boss wants it solved like yesterday, annnnd there are noleads. The story of my life you know." she grinned.

"What about you? Surely yours is more interesting."

As they pulled into the very famous bar and grill she slid out and smiled hooking her arm through Wes'. She wasn't sure if Jack would get word of this, but .. Wes was her best friend they were just going to have to get along. No way she was dropping over twenty years of history. They found their usual booth, and she sat across from her plopping her heavy purse in the booth beside her and didn't bother with the menu. It wans'tvast, and it never changed, and she always ordered the same thing.

"So, what's the word on the street? You guys gossip worse than your Grandmother at Tea, and that's saying something since she'slike the town gossip." she said with a grin as the waitress came by and glanced at them before heading back to the kitchen without a word, she knew what they wanted, they always got the same thng, shared, laughed, and sometimes, got drunk.

What about you? Surely yours is more interesting.

Wes could only roll his eyes. This girl, no matter their jobs, had always found Wes' life more interesting. This coming from Detective Amelia Remington: solver of crimes, captor of murderers most foul, and one crazy lady with a badge and gun. Wes never envied Rems' job, but he never understood what was so exciting about running in to burning piles of wood. It was just his job, what was so different from anything else?

More interesting? I doubt that very much. Its simply hotter. Not too much is new, you know? Same shift, different day. Its all a rotation: work, sleep, date, work, repeat.

Amelia's face lit up a bit when he mentioned the dating aspect. She had been on him for weeks about a new woman in his life and now seemed as good a time as any to let her in on the subject. That, and he wanted to make sure he and Kalinda were a real thing before going off and telling the world. What was more embarrassing than telling everyone you have a new girlfriend only to lose her within a few weeks?

Nothing. That's what.

So, what's the word on the street? You guys gossip worse than your Grandmother at Tea, and that's saying something since she's like the town gossip.

The town gossip for the city of Librium? Wes narrowed his eyes at his friend. It wasn't really about his grandmother, the woman loved to tell stories, it was more about the Fire Department being like some Ladies' Tea Club! The audacity!!

Please do not tell me you are comparing my job to tea time with my grandmother and her friends. I do way more important stuff than that...like video games and darts.

Wes wondered when Amelia would ask the standard million questions about the new love in his life. Love wasn't the exact word, but it was appropriate for now. The words would follow at some point.

Wesley always thought he was the Divine's gift to women. He wasn't. And she told him so frequently. Didn't help that all he had to say was 'fireman' and the girls fawned over him like a crazy porno version of Back Draft. Amelia fought to roll her eyes, and lost the battle. Her eyes rolled but then, that was them, always trading barbs, and fun times, and laughter. That was the best thing about Wes, he knew her and she knew him and they didn't expect anything out of each other. It was given what they were and they were quite happy with their arrangement.

Date?!

She latched onto the word like a Pirhanna. She was excited at the prospect of another woman in Wes' life. Some of the ones he had chosen in the past were losers, and Amelia didn't hold back her opinions when it came to a woman that wasn't good enough for Wes. Majority of the time, she was right about them and Wes knew that. She tried not to butt in, but there were times she had to pull the 'little sister' card and tell him how it was.

She grinned at him.

You know you big strapping firemen sit around a plate of cookies I bring every week with some beer and talk about the city and all the drama and rumors you guys here. Lets not pretend your offended, you're just as guilty as the rest of them. she grinned.

Then she tilted her head to the side. He didn't bring up anything about rumors of her dating anyone so she figured she might still be in the clear on that one. Because, Wesley might gossip like an old lady but he also loved to see that she was getting into someone, so that meant he would be worse than an old lady in a Wedding Planning business trying to get all the information of who she was dating.

So this woman. Will I like her? she asked with a smile. Wesley knew and understood better than anyone about Amelia's ability. And unfortunately, it had been used from time to time to actually.. find out that some of the girls he had dated were either married, cheating, drug addicts, or .. whatever. She also figured out that the woman that was trying to blackmail him by screaming pregnancy wasn't pregnant at all. Amelia was good for that sort of thing, and she was always going to be super protective of Wesley.

Tell me details. You know that inquiring minds, aka your Grandmother, have already called me so you might as well spill the beans. she grinned. She was relentless, bribed me with my favorite cookies and everything, can't say no to the chocolate dot cookies, you know that.

As they were chatting the waitress arrived with their drink orders: a bottled beer for Amelia, and a draft beer for him. Wes couldn't help but laugh at the voracity and zeal in her eyes when he mentioned he was dating again, and she probably thought that she was in the clear when it came to her love life. Ah, surprises were the best...especially when the joke was on not-Wes.

You know you big strapping firemen sit around a plate of cookies I bring every week with some beer and talk about the city and all the drama and rumors you guys here. Lets not pretend your offended, you're just as guilty as the rest of them.

We throw your cookies out every week, can't be sure they aren't poisoned. That, and we can't convince the rookie to eat one to test it. He doesn't think that my magnificence in medicine would save him in time...ungrateful ass. Don't give me that look.

The unrolled eye roll was one of Amelia's specialties. It was like she had been working on it her entire life. He would remember summers with her in the building with her, and every summer seemed to have refined and perfected the look even more. It was uncanny.

So this woman. Will I like her?

Personality wise? Smell wise? Super sensory wise? Probably. You may not like her though. People in your department generally don't like her type.

The vague answer set Amelia's mind spinning, and Wes shot her a smile to match her own. Amelia demanded details, using his own grandmother against him. Little did Amelia know that his grandmother was still trying to convince her, though cookies and interactions, that she should've settled down with Wes. The exact quote was always 'decades ago.' Wes' smile got bigger.

I will give some details if I get some details on the guy you've been dating. I know you're with someone because you have ignored three phone calls on Saturdays and have forgotten cookies two weeks in a row. This guy must be all in your life if you forget cookies for your favorite firefighter.

So...dish.

Don't you pick on Ted. I adopted him remember, you're not allowed to be mean. she reminded him of Ted's first day and how they had all tried to haze him, getting him to sleep with the firehouse dog in the dog's bed and convincing him that everyone did that. They didn't, and Amelia had taken poor Ted underneath her wing after that. Ted loved her cookies.

He answered her question about the woman and her brows rose. Mostly, she would like the woman, but what really got her interested was the fact that.. people in her 'department' didn't like people like her. Which meant she was on or involved in the Force. The only thing Amelia couldn't imagine liking was the Internal Affairs people because they were assholes that just wanted to take a good cop down so they got a little trophy on their name badge or something.

Oh Divine, Wes! You aren't dating someone in Internal Affairs are you? Because there are many things I can over look.. But Wes... I'd rathe ryou were gay! Which.. would go with the fireman mentality. Long metal poles, long red trucks with tall ladders, don't pretend that it isn't a sausage fest.

She laughed.

Knowing it razzed him a little bit. She took a swig of her beer and tossed her blonde curls behind her back a little bit as he told her that he would dish only if she dished. Causing Remy to purse her lips and tilt her head in that 'Im thinking about your proposition' look. He told her that he knew she was seeing someone. She left calls unanswered on Saturday nights which was when they usually hung out often, and she had forgotten cookies two weeks in the last couple of months.

Damn cookies....

Wes' and her own Grandparents had been on them about getting together since they had met in elementary school. As they got older, the Grandparents had pushed it a little in hopes. But, even now, they said something time and again about how they needed to just give up and admit they were perfect for one another. Perhaps in another world. Another life. Wes was like.. she supposed a soul mate, but not her love. There were such a things, they worked so well together, they were in sync, but .. that didn't mean she loved him as anything other than the brother she had always known him to be.

Fine but no names for me.. I .. I can't, and that's the honest truth, at least not.. here. she bit her lower lip. He would understand. They were in a cop bar. Which meant if she said anything, they could get in trouble. She was fairly certain firefighters had the same rules that cops did when it came to inner departmental dating.

He's... a little older than me, he's in his early thirties... annnnd.... he has a daughter. She's crazy about me, though I have no idea why. It just.. kinda happened you know? Like.. we were just .. hanging out because I had watched his daughter and then... one thing led to another and we .. went out on a date.. or sorta a date because it can't be like.. public which kinda sucks.

She frowned slightly. Which was true. Amelia loved having fun, getting out, doing things and having a blast. She was an energetic woman that adored attention and fun. That didn't mean she didn' thave fun with Jack it was just a more mellow different kind of fun because of the restraints on their relationship.

Your turn to dish, fry boy.

Don't you pick on Ted. I adopted him remember, you're not allowed to be mean.

You just don't get firehouses, do you? When you 'adopted' Ted, he then became even more of a target. Silly girl.

Amelia accused him of dating someone from Internal Affairs, and Wes visibly scoffed at the thought. That would be like Amelia dating someone from Departmental Investigation...it was a thought that could make you shudder. Then...Amelia had the audacity to tease that he was gay. As if! Wes loved booty and boobs just as much as any fireman! Well, one set specifically now, but he needed to keep Amelia guessing. That was half the fun.

His partner from across the table then went on to dish about her new beau, which Wes was sure she had. Plus, the guys had been talking about his hot friend in MHD was apparently dating someone...the rumor mill wasn't up to snuff these days.

Ok...that thought just proved her point. She can never know!

Her description was rather telling. She described a very nice seeming man, someone a little older and a man with a child. Wes probably should have been surprised, but he knew Amelia. She liked dating older guys, and she wanted nothing more in the world than to be a mom. The way she dodged his name made him very suspicious...and then he realized it...and pulled out his phone.

[You're dating your boss, aren't you?]

He sent the text as she demanded to know more about Kali.

Well, she is also a little older than I am. She volunteers at a orphanage in town that burned down, and I pulled her little friend from the building and she sprained her ankle. Oh, she has really cool abilities....that I probably can't tell you about. That...

...and she consults on cases for the MHD.

Wes raised an eyebrow at her. He would never give a name if he couldn't get one. Besides, Amelia was a detective...she would figure it out.

She looked at him, the softness in her eyes, and in her face. Gave away the feelings that were severely building for the man that had worked his way into her heart. She smiled as he began to text her and then talk about the woman he was dating. It was not hard at all to put things together. There were several consultants in the Force but there were only a few that were female and had abilities. Not that she knew everyone's abilities but she knew some, and there were a few talked about here and there that weren't actually seen.

Remy picked up her phone and read the text. She sput out the swallow of beer in her mouth and her face paled. The blood just left her face completely except for possbily two tiny pinpricks of blush on her cheeks. Quick to pick herself back up from it, she quickly texted back.

[Of course not! Seriously? You just straight to boss?]

She put her phone down and then she thought through all the female consultants. Thing was, Wes had big tastes, they were rich and fine so that counted out a lot of the women. not that they were ugly, they just weren't Wes' type and lucky for Amelia she knew what they were. But there was one that kept standing out. She didn't really know anything about the woman, but she had heard the rumors that she had empathic powers, and that she helped out at orphanages a lot. Amelia had donated some toys to her cause earlier that month so that the orphans could have a good Christmas, or at least better than nothing.

[Kali. You're dating Kali. You dog!]

She didn't care that he was dating Kali. If anyone on the force, that was probably good enough for Wes on a level tha tmost weren't. Now if that meant long term or not that remaiend to be seen but she wasn't about to go into all of that at the moment. Right now she just wanted to know if she was right. So the text had been easiest because she wasn't sure that he wanted everyone to know, just like she sure as HELL didn't want anyone to know about Jack.

So.. saved her from a fire. Hero complex much? she asked with a little grin as she tilted her head to the side. And 'sprained ankle' her ass, because she had seen women do worse to get Wes' attention a sprained ankle was child's play.

[Of course not! Seriously? You just straight to boss?]

Poor Amelia, her text may vehemently protest something, only to find that her face had betrayed her. So, she was dating her boss, effectively making her the lobster in this seafood boil...mainly on account of how red she turned.

Is he good to you?

She softly nodded.

Then I don't care.

He smile deepened in appreciation and then mirth as a text flew across his phone, Kali being named as his mystery woman. He simply nodded and chuckled at the victory in Amelia's face.

So.. saved her from a fire. Hero complex much?

Wes glared at the comment, which was simply replied with the most mature of rebuttals: Amelia stuck her tongue out at him.

Saved her from herself. She wanted to run back in to an inferno, without a helmet. I just grabbed her. I did save the orphan she was going after, adorable little girl. Once I was out, I wrapped her sprained ankle and then I asked her out.

The look on Amelia's face said it all...she didn't believe it.

I swear, honest...engine. He winked and laughed. Oh...he was funny.

He didn't care. She appreciated that. She could only smile and nod when he asked if the man she was dating, her boss, treated her right. When she nodded, he said he didn't care and the look of relief on her face was completely obvious. She was just.. the kind of girl that .. loved and loved hard. She had already fallen for him in ways that.. she couldn't describe to anyone. She couldn't help it. Jack treated her like a Queen, and .. she knew that he cared for her.

Thanks, I .. appreciate that. I know it's kind of unorthodox... but.. you can't help who the heart goes for you know...

Her jaw dropped, when the truth came out. He asked her out. She could.. almost never remember a time that Wesley asked anyone out. Except her prom. She didn't want to go with any of the guys at school but she didn't want to go alone, so Wes had asked her so that she could have fun without having to deal with a sleezy asshole of a prom date. Amelia had always had grand dreams of prom and wedding days, and Wesley had made her prom date dreams come true. Excpet it ending with a kiss, but she didn't care about that... everything else had been perfect.

She also, was going to have him be in her wedding. Probably walking her down the isle, if she ever had a wedding, though.. she doubted he honestly knew her plans for that yet. She also knew that he wouldn't say no. He never did.

Well now, that changes things. You'll have to.. let me know how it goes. I'm rooting for you Fletcher, it's about time that you finally settled down and decided to find yourself an honest girl instead of those Fire Floozies that follow you around.. it's quite disgusting.

Amelia might know every firefighter at Wes' station but that was because she was basically Wes' sister so she stopped in often enough. She had dated none of them, on the principal of making sure that Wesley was never put in an awkward spot, plus.. she thought it would just be weird for someone that he worked with to know intimate details.. and.. there were too many cons and not enough pros in that situation.

She smiled. So.. now that we have the nitty gritty of our love lives out of the way, dish. I want to know what's going on in the lives of Bastion's fire department, and... your Grandmother says there's a wedding coming up soon. She thinks we should go together. You're to call her to inform her if that's not acceptable, because otherwise, we're sitting at the table with both our Grandparents and side by side. she laughed and shrugged.

It was nearly impossible to say no to the Grandparents, but they could find a way. If they were both dating other people it might be worth it. But, Amelia was quite honestly not sure she wanted to go to his third cousin twice removed fourth wedding.

Oh and before you invite Kali. Think about the fact that it's Virginia's fourth wedding, and the theme is Gone with the Wind. she grinned.

Wes couldn't help but smile as Amelia's jaw dropped as he spoke to her. He was never one to ask a woman out, typically they would ask him, or flaunt themselves until he invited them over. It wasn't necessarily a bad life, it just wasn't really stable. Then again, Wes never really needed stable: he had Amelia. She had always been there for him and filled a lot of the roles that the so-called "Fire Floozies" never could.

So.. now that we have the nitty gritty of our love lives out of the way, dish. I want to know what's going on in the lives of Bastion's fire department, and... your Grandmother says there's a wedding coming up soon. She thinks we should go together. You're to call her to inform her if that's not acceptable, because otherwise, we're sitting at the table with both our Grandparents and side by side.

Simply raising an eyebrow, Wes leaned in and spoke in a suspicious manner.

Who's wedding? Also, if I say its unacceptable, how are you coming, with your grandparents?

Fact of the matter was that Wes' grandparents were quite wealthy, and they could buy a table from whoever for this wedding. It was like Amelia's and his own grandparents, neighbors in the same tower apartments, were still trying to hook the two of them up.

Oh and before you invite Kali. Think about the fact that it's Virginia's fourth wedding, and the theme is Gone with the Wind.

With a sigh and an eyeroll, Wes shook his head. Virginia was his third cousin, twice removed, thrice divorced. The woman was a magnet for seemingly "nice guys" who turned out to be horrible. Ginny was also a woman who fell at the drop of a hat, and she didn't date for long before getting in to (another) white dress.

Gone with the Wind? Really? How many ridiculous theme weddings is Ginny gonna have until she realizes that no one enjoys them?

They laughed together as their food arrived. Wes got his normal cheeseburger with spicy sauce and jalapenos with fries. Nodding to the waitress with thanks, he turned and watched Amelia steal a fry, as she always did.

I don't have a lot of rumors, but we think the Captain's wife is pregnant. He's acting weird, and she's been getting a little fat. That's all I got...how about you? What rumors come floating out of the MHD?

Amelia turned up her lip for a moment. She hated going to weddings. Whether she was seeing someone or not, everyone made it their day's mission to hook her up with their sons. She ended up dancing with eighty different guys of eighteen and up that were single or.. that felt she was the better option than what they were dating now. It was kind of disgusting and she really hated that. A wedding was a celebration but it seemed as though everyone like to use it as a mating ritual instead.

I dont know, I might try to get out of it. Might take an extra shift at work. If you don't go, then I'm not going because at least if I go with you people won't be trying to hook us up with every single person invited.

She knew Wes' wedding experiences weren't any different than her own. She had seen the proof of him dancing and dancing, they were usually highly exhausted by the end of the wedding and falling asleep in the limo on the way home. That and she usually needed a pedicure afterwards just so she could get someone to massage her tired feet and legs. She'd never had anyone to do that before and she wouldn't ask Wes. Though sometimes he did it without asking knowing that heels were a bitch.

I heard the next one, she's thinking about Pirate theme. Which, to think that she's alllll ready talking about the next wedding when this one hasn't even come yet, is a bad sign. But at least pirates sound.. slightly more manageable and fun than Gone with the Wind.

She knew that for sure.. she would drag Wes into taking a swordsmanship class so they could do a sword fight! And then, they would steal the show, but it would be fun. She could even get them to make it like a fued. ~How DARE you dance with that wench! You were mine when you were five and you are mine now!~ ~YOU cannot tell ME what to do you ungrateful wench! I will not take such insolence!~ ~You will have to FIGHT me for the right to dance with others!~ ~En Guarde!!!~

Yep... awesomeness.

Well the gossip mill at the firehouse had failed her. She pursed her lips and took a bite of her burger, as she processed the information. She knew that Bethany, the Captain's wife had been wanting a baby for a while, so she was happy that they had finally gotten pregnant, she wasn't sure when it was a secret. It might be that she wasn't far enough along yet. Waiting for the big milestone or something.

Hmmm. Well, we're having a Christmas party in a few days. I'm hoping you'll come, actually I was gonna ask you to be my date, but if you're dating Kali that'd be weird. So, I'm not gonna do that. Ummmm.... that's all I got.. we suck as a rumor mill. she laughed.

She reached over and stole his fry. She loved fries, and even though she had a pile of her own, she liked taking his and he never minded. Amelia worked out often, so it wasn't like she wouldn't work the fries off, and she didn't let herself eat like this that often anyway. Just when she got together with Wes, or on a special day.

Oh. I heard a rumor, though, that there's and android loose in Librium. She's destroyed buildings, killed people, and everything. It's crazy. I didn't even think androids existed anymore, but they say she's pretty scary.

I heard the next one, she's thinking about Pirate theme. Which, to think that she's alllll ready talking about the next wedding when this one hasn't even come yet, is a bad sign. But at least pirates sound.. slightly more manageable and fun than Gone with the Wind.

Pirate theme huh? She needs to dump this guy. You know we need to sword fight at that Pirate wedding, right?

The mischievous smile on Amelia's face spoke volumes about Wes' idea. He loved the way they had the same idea on a lot of things. In this case, the sword fight during a pirate themed wedding was a given. Amelia and Wes were known in their families for causing issues and making a scene. They just did their best not to disappoint.

As Wes gave away the only real gossip he had, Amelia seemed to be disappointed. No matter what she believed, he wasn't his grandmother. Grandma Fletcher let gossip envelop her life because she had nothing better to do, that and drink tea. Finally, Amelia got in to the interesting part: her gossip. Cops had to have their thumb on the pulse of ridiculousness, right?

Hmmm. Well, we're having a Christmas party in a few days. I'm hoping you'll come, actually I was gonna ask you to be my date, but if you're dating Kali that'd be weird. So, I'm not gonna do that. Ummmm.... that's all I got.. we suck as a rumor mill.

Well, I can't be your date. Kali already asked me, and I'm on shift that night. I took a full twenty-four to help the guys with families. I didn't expect Kali in my life at the time. We do suck as a rumor mill. Then again, that's because someone insists I take after my grandmother!

Wes glared at Amelia's patented 'innocence face.' It was more like a peer in to a serious crock of shit. Either way, that was his best friend, even if she couldn't lie to save her life. Maybe the criminals were too stupid not to see it, but not Wes. Wes was like some sort of super smart god-like creature. Amelia didn't see it, but that was her loss.

It was then she had mentioned the Android attack in Librium, and Wes nodded.

Yeah, this thing destroyed the New Dawn research campus. My team got called in on the second day. That's where I was a couple of months ago for it, I guess they are finally releasing details. Searched the rubble, all we found was bodies. It was unbelievable. As far as we know, she was killed this time.

The first time was a fudged mission where the Terran Guard supposedly gave out false information. They did rescue one woman the day of the attack...her lab fell on her. No idea if she made it. That was months ago though...hope she's moving towards a normal life...if she can, anyway.